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A chara,
Welcome to December! I hope you are staying cosy. This season is busy but there's lots of fun to be had too! Have a look at our event list below and enjoy upcoming talks, courses and films. I'd like to especially highlight our upcoming conference this Sunday 7th in Laois. All PPN and local environmental network members are invited to join us to hear about topics requested throughout the year.
Take part in action for biodiversity at home with this years Garden Bird Survey, or help shape the Native Woodland Strategy. We also have two job opportunities outlined below.
Le meas,
Catherine
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Contents
Community Groups Showcase
- Riverwood Biodiversity Group
- Maigue Rivers Trust
- Louth Nature Trust
Events
- See 'Quick Guide to Events'
Public Consultations
- Garden Bird Survey
- Native Woodland Strategy: 2026-2030
Funding Opportunities
- Grants now available from The Heritage Council
Job Opportunities
- Irish Environmental Network: Head of Finance and Operations
- Coalition 2030: Coalition Coordinator
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- Find out more about IEN member groups
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Quick Guide to Events
December
- 4th @ 7pm: Launch of Kerri Ni Dochertaigh as Writer in Residence - Clare
- 4th @ 7.30pm: EXPLORING TREASURES OF IRISH NATURE, a presentation by Anya Murray - Wicklow
- 6th @ 11am: Youth Summit Earth Gala 2025 - Dublin
- 7th: Irish Environmental Network Winter Conference - Laois
January
- 8th - 18th: Self Build Wind Turbine Course - Roscommon
- 21st @ 7pm: Environmental Film Festival - Carlow
February
- 3rd @ 7pm: PPN Environmental Reps Meet & Share - Online
- 19th @ 7pm: Environmental Film Festival - Carlow
| | Community Groups Showcase | | Get to know some of the local groups in Ireland who are working for climate and biodiversity, all members of their local Public Participation Network. Find your PPN here to join for free and receive free training, information on local events and funding, and the opportunities to affect local policy creation in your County Council. | |
Riverwood Biodiversity Group
Fingal
Riverwood Estate is in the Carpenterstown area of Dublin 15. We are a group of Riverwood residents interested in nature and doing our bit to help wildlife in our area. We use evidence –based approaches to develop our conservation projects.
With projects such as wildlife gardening workshops and exhibition, bat walks and talks, leaf mould cages and composting, planting for pollinators and mammals, biodiversity surveys and school collaborations, and much more.
Read more here or contact riverwoodbiodiversitygrp@gmail.com to get involved.
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Maigue Rivers Trust
Limerick
The Maigue Rivers Trust was established in 2016 to protect, enhance and cherish the rivers and lakes of the Maigue catchment for the benefit and enjoyment of all.
The trust aims to work with local communities to ensure that the rivers and lakes of the Maigue catchment can achieve their full potential both environmentally and recreationally.
Read more and get in touch: www.maigueriverstrust.ie
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Louth Nature Trust
Louth
The Louth Nature Trust supports a halt to biodiversity loss through the restoration and protection of natural habitats.
Originally founded in 2006, the initial board focused primarily on looking after the little terns nesting at Baltray beach. As well as significant work with the little terns, they have installed nest boxes for black guillemots at Port Oriel, Gyles Quay and Greenore port, and also operate a birdwatching hide at Lurgangreen, just south of Blackrock.
Read more and get in touch: www.louthnaturetrust.ie
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Launch of Kerri Ni Dochertaigh as Writer in Residence
Dec 4th, 7pm - 8.30pm
Clare
CELT are delighted to launch our Writer in Residence programme and welcome renowned nature writer and ecopoet Kerri Ni Dochertaigh as our Writer in Residence, taking place in partnership with the Woodland League and NatureCulture@LLN with thanks to funding awarded under the Irish Environmental Networks inaugural Andrew St Ledger Memorial Fund 2025.
Everyone is welcome to join us for the public launch of our Programme with Kerri on 4th December 7- 8:30pm at Raheen Woods Steiner Community National School
More info here
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EXPLORING TREASURES OF IRISH NATURE, a presentation by Anya Murray
Dec 4th, 7.30pm
Wicklow
Based on her new book, FROG ROUTES, POLKA-DOT NEWTS AND OTHER TREASURES OF IRISH NATURE, Anja Murray will present stories from Ireland’s wild plants and animals, revealing some of the wondrous webs of life that sustain us. We will explore how cultivating curiosity and tuning into the intricacies of the lives of wild creatures can help shape our approaches to taking action, maintain momentum toward change, and incorporate ecological care in our relationship with land management.
Anja's talk will be complemented by music from Rory Adams. This event is supported by the Biodiversity office in Wicklow County Council.
Date: Thursday, 4 December
Time: 7.30pm (Refreshments from 7pm)
Venue: Valleymount Community Hall W91 N702
To register: email westwicklowen@gmail.com
Or register on https://forms.gle/3ZQmx12X8qkyMw6c6
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Youth Summit Earth Gala 2025
Dec 6th, 11am - 4pm
Dublin
ECO-UNESCO’s Earth Gala Youth Summit is a vibrant celebration of youth-led climate action and environmental advocacy, featuring inspiring projects, panel discussions, collaborative workshops, performances, and fun activities! Transport will be reimbursed, and lunch will be provided on the day. Attendees will include all-Ireland youth, policymakers, scholars, and NGO leaders passionate about climate justice and environmental action.
Register your interest today.
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Irish Environmental Network Winter Conference
Dec 7th, 10am - 4pm
Laois
IEN and PPN members are welcome to our Winter Conference! Connect and learn from each other, hear from our speakers & enjoy dinner on us!
At this conference we will cover a selection of topics that have been requested by IEN and PPN members throughout the year.
Our workshops include:
- Creative Networking Event
- Planning and Development Act 2024 - What you need to know about the future of planning in Ireland and how it affects you. With Fred Logue.
- What’s next for Irish environmentalism? - Help shape the work of the IEN. With Oisín Coghlan.
- Laois PPN Climate Action Project - Discover how the PPN in Laois assisted collaboration and action for climate among local groups and council, and how you can do the same in your county. With Dan Bergin.
- Exploring 25 years of the Abbeyleix Bog Project
- Moral & ethical dilemmas of using AI in your organisation. With Rosi Leonard.
- Establishing and developing a volunteer network in your organisation. With Stuart Garland.
All followed by dinner on us!
Register now to secure your place: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/1865248702079?aff=oddtdtcreator
| | JANUARY & FEBRUARY EVENTS | | |
Self Build Wind Turbine Course
Jan 8th - 18th
Roscommon
Roscommon Climate Action Officer shares this upcoming training which teaches you how to build a domestic wind turbine from scratch using the Hugh Piggott Turbine Design. The course is ideal for those interested in building their own wind power systems.
More information and apply here
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Environmental Film Festival
County Carlow Environmental Network (CCEN) have two film nights coming up the new year:
Jan 21st, 7pm
Carlow
Wed 21st January – Showing short films on the topic of Energy. We will collaborate with Sustainable Energy Communities and South East Energy Agency.
Feb 19th, 7pm
Carlow
Thur 19th February - Showing a number of short films on the topic of Wetlands and to collaborate with the Drummin Bog Project. The Drummin Bog Project is a voluntary not-for-profit community education project to restore the only raised bog in Co. Carlow - www.drumminbog.com.
We will have a discussion after each film with a couple of speakers and a question and answer session.
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37th Irish Garden Bird Survey is ready to take flight
BirdWatch Ireland's Irish Garden Bird Survey, kindly sponsored by Ballymaloe, is back for its 37th consecutive winter. The survey is very simple and asks people to spend a short amount of time each week watching their garden birds and recording what they see. It plays an important role in tracking the fortunes of some of Ireland's best-loved creatures and informing our work as a conservation charity.
The impact of the data collected by our participants over the past 37 years has been huge. Thanks to them, we know that Robins, Blackbirds and Blue Tits are the most common garden bird species in Ireland. We know that species such as Great Spotted Woodpecker are on the rise. We know that Greenfinch numbers have plummeted in recent years, a loss that can be almost entirely linked to trichomoniasis – a disease which mostly affects finches.
See the results of last winter's Irish Garden Bird Survey and learn how you can take part
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Native Woodland Strategy 2026-2030 Public Consultation
Woodlands of Ireland is a partnership-based environmental charity founded in 1998, dedicated to native woodland conservation and expansion. Previously, Woodlands of Ireland, in conjunction with a range of public and private sector stakeholders, had developed a 5-year native woodland strategy for the period 2016 to 2020, which is now overdue for updating. You can view this document here: A Strategy for Native Woodlands in Ireland 2016-2020.
Since that time, grant-aided native woodland establishment has grown to form c.40% of afforestation activity, while the native woodland conservation scheme has struggled to gain significant ground. Here are several factors which need to be considered in an updated strategy for 2026-2030:
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Native Woodland Conservation, Climate Resilient Reforestation, Native Forest Establishment, Emergent Woodland, Woodland Improvement Thinning, Continuous Cover Forestry and Neighbourwood grants are some existing funding mechanisms in the RoI Forestry Programme 2023-2027, which support the better management and expansion of woodlands largely composed of native species.
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The challenging EU Nature Restoration Law (NRL) legally bound woodland targets in the 2026-2030 period (10,000ha of recreated Oak woodland and c.4000 ha of alluvial (wet) woodland by 2030) require planning, implementation and workforce training and development for long-term maintenance in both the public and private sectors.
- Opportunities for timber production from native woodland and close to nature silviculture systems applied to them require consideration in a range of sites.
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A comprehensive tree cover education and training strategy is needed to achieve the DAFM Forestry Programme, EU Water Framework Directive and EU NRL targets.
- Irish Environmental Network (IEN)/ Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL) and Public Participation Network (PPN) member groups' input is welcome and essential.
- Many new organisations have emerged to populate the fertile ground of native tree cover expansion in recent years and need to be included in this consultation.
To seek input from a diverse range of stakeholders in the creation of this new strategy for native woodlands, Woodlands of Ireland are conducting an online public consultation from now until Friday, 16th January 2026, followed by webinars in February and a March gathering.
To contribute, you can choose one or all of the following options:
(1) Make your views known to Woodlands of Ireland through info@woodlandsofireland.com
(2) Complete the questionnaire at this link by 16th January: https://www.woodlandsofireland.com/nws-consultation-form/
(3) Contribute to webinars in February 2026, dates to be confirmed.
(4) Attend an in-person discussion group in March 2026 focused on the bullet points above and additional points raised from the consultation, location and date to be confirmed.
Links to the Consultation:
https://www.woodlandsofireland.com/native-woodland-strategy-2026-2030-public-consultation/
https://www.woodlandsofireland.com/nws-consultation-form/
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Grants now available from The Heritage Council
The Heritage Organisation Support Fund supports not for profit, non-governmental organisations working in the heritage sector in Ireland by providing funding towards their core costs.
From wildlife and archaeology to architecture, archives and inland waterways, could your organisation benefit from this support? The maximum amount available per organisation is €50,000.
A zoom information webinar will take place on Friday 5th December 2025 at 11.30. Click the read more button below to register for the webinar and to see more information about this scheme.
Read more here
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The Irish Environmental Network is hiring
Head of Finance and Operations
The Irish Environmental Network (IEN) was established in 2001 as an umbrella group to represent and support a network of environmental non-governmental organisations working throughout the Republic of Ireland.
As the Head of Finance and Operations, you will manage the overall operations of the IEN, including finance, office management, human resources, and governance. This is a senior role within the organisation, bringing together strategic leadership with hands-on financial planning, management, and operations oversight. You will directly manage a small team, with a wide-ranging impact across the organisation, team, and Network of members.
Closing date Dec 11th
Click here for more info and to apply
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Coalition 2030 Coordinator
Coalition 2030 is Ireland’s civil society alliance dedicated to ensuring the State meets its obligations under the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
The Coordinator’s role is to facilitate, organise and drive collective civil society actions undertaken by the coalition.
Click here for full details about the role.
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Find out more about the work of IEN members
The Irish Environmental Network has 34 nationally active members, who work on a wide variety of environmental, biodiversity and sustainability issues.
You can read more about their work, get involved, or sign up to their newsletters to hear directly from them on their websites.
See all members here
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